The World Choir Games are being held in Auckland, New Zealand from Wednesday 10 to Saturday 20 July 2024.

The Games are organised into two parts:

• Part One runs from 10 to 14 July
• Part Two runs from 16 to 20 July

• The World Choir Games is the largest choral festival and competition in the world. Choirs of many different cultures, choral traditions and singing styles join together from right across the globe.
• With the Games being held for the first, and perhaps only, time ever in Aotearoa, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for NZ choirs and vocal ensembles.
• The Games are huge: 300 choirs, 10,000 singers and over 50 countries are projected to attend.  Your choir/group will be in the heart of a major international event without having to leave the country.
• The Games are also welcoming and inclusive. All competing choirs will receive a medal or certificate from WCG2024, and those who don’t wish to compete have a choice of other activities.
• Don’t just take our word for it; here’s what past participants have said about the Games:
  • “The competition has been a dream-come-true for our choir! We couldn’t be prouder! It was a lifetime achievement and experience none of us will ever forgot.”
    Vocal Ensemble FORTISSIMO, Bulgaria (WCG 2021, Flanders)
  •  “We just have to tell you right now: we loved the whole event!”Cgals Chamber Choir, Namibia (WCG 2014, Riga)
  • “There is no other choral gathering like it in the world which can compare that brings together singers with such enormous sprit of great joy and collegiality.” - Juror, Canada (WCG 2016,Sochi)
  • “What a wonderful event and what a wonderful time we had! And on top of that to have been a category winner was just amazing! My students are still talking about it and I know they will continue to do so for years to come!” –  Linn-Benton Community College Choirs, USA (WCG 2014, Riga)
  • “The level of talent was mind-blowing and the passion for music inspiring!” –  Frank Pietersen Music Centre Combined Choir, South Africa (WCG 2018, Tshwane)

There are several ways choirs can choose to participate in the Games. These include:

• entering one or more of the 28 Competition Categories, at either Champions or Open level
• registering for a non-competitive Evaluation Session – a private assessment by three jurors of your choir’s sung programme, with verbal feedback
• registering for an Individual Coaching Session – a 45-minute private ‘rehearsal’ run by a single juror, who works with your choir and then provides feedback
• participation in the Festival Stage Choir – attending rehearsals of the work/s and performing at the Closing Ceremony
•  performing in one of the many Friendship Concerts held across Tāmaki Makaurau
• attending talks, workshops and demonstrations to learn from international experts and receive new choral insights
• attending, at no charge, the Opening/Closing Ceremony, your own Awards Ceremony and any other Competition Categories and Friendship Concerts in your ‘Part’
• participating in the Parade of Nations, a lively street parade along Auckland’s waterfront

• Earlybird deadline – 20 September 2023
• Registration deadline – 6 December 2023
• World Choir Games 2024 – 10-20 July 2024

Although Games registration caters for choirs and not individuals, one activity that ‘unattached’ singers can potentially take part in is the massed Festival Stage Choir, which rehearses during the second Part (week) of the Games and performs with the Auckland Philharmonia at the Closing Ceremony. 

More information including costs and the sign up form can be found online here : https://nzcf.org.nz/events/nzcf-events/world-choir-games/about/Single-Singers

• Choirs based within a 160km driving distance of Auckland (and do not require accommodation) pay a Registration Fee (per choir/per activity) and a Participant Fee (per person/per part of the Games). Costs for these choirs are here 
• All other New Zealand choirs pay a Registration Fee (per choir/per activity) and an Event Package (per person/per part of the Games), which includes four nights’ accommodation. Costs for these choirs are here 
   

A range of discounts are available to New Zealand choirs:

• Registration Fee
  • discount for New Zealand choirs and further discounts for NZCF member choirs
• Participant Fee
  • discount for School Choirs

• Your Registration Fee and per-person Event Package or Participant Fee enables your choir to choose ONE of the following four ‘activities’:

1. Entry into one Competition Category
2. Non-competitive Evaluation Session – a private (verbal and written) assessment by three jurors of your choir’s sung programme
3. Individual Coaching Session – a 45-minute private ‘rehearsal’ run by a single juror, who works with your choir and then provides feedback
4. Participation in the Festival Stage Choir – attending rehearsals of the work/s and performing at the Closing Ceremony

• If your choir would like to participate in more than one of the above activities (eg, enter two competition categories or enter one competition category and participate in the Festival Stage Choir), an additional Registration Fee will be charged for each new activity.
• In addition to your choice of the above activities, your choir will also be able to perform in one Friendship Concert and participate in the Parade of Nations.
• Your choir members will also receive an Official Event Pass, which gives them free admission to:
  • all Competition Categories and Friendship Concerts (space permitting)
  • the Opening or Closing Ceremony applicable to your Part of the Games.

• Talks, workshops, etc are charged for separately. However, the WCG2024 Team is working to ensure there is at least one complimentary workshop available for New Zealand registrants.
• Celebration and Special Concerts are ticketed and charged for separately.

• Choirs and conductors can register for a maximum of two activities per Part of the Games.
• Choirs and conductors who want to participate in more than two activities will need to register for up to two activities in Part One and up to two activities in Part Two of the Games.
• If you would like to discuss how best to schedule your or your choir’s participation, talk to us at info@wcg2024.co.nz

• Any choir or vocal group can enter at the Open level. Champions level is for choirs with international or strong national competitive experience, or a proven level of artistic achievement.
• You can find a list of Champions level criteria here, but if you wish to be considered for entry into a Champions level category, just email us at info@wcg2024.co.nz

• INTERKULTUR will release the detailed Games schedule in June 2024.
• Owing to the scale of the Games and the complex scheduling involved, choirs are not able to request to perform on a specific day or time.